The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning, and Public Works, Monday, held a public participation exercise in Lodwar, to hear views of the residents on the Affordable Housing Bill.
The team paid a courtesy call on Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, who supported the Bill and urged the National Government, to consider Turkana County in its Affordable Housing Programme.
Governor Lomorukai acknowledged the importance of the housing programme in creating employment opportunities and addressing the housing challenge.
He assured the Committee, chaired by Emurua Dikirr legislator, Johana Ngeno, of the county administration’s readiness to embrace it.
The Committee is in Turkana to conduct public participation on the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023, which is expected to provide a legal framework for the programme’s implementation.
The County Government has earmarked 40 acres of land in Turkana South, Turkana Central, and Turkana West Sub-counties, for construction of housing units.
Governor Lomorukai expressed optimism that the programme will address pressing housing challenges in Turkana, particularly in educational institutions, such as universities and colleges.
He assured the Committee of the hospitality of the Turkana people and briefed them on efforts to foster peaceful cohesion among the Ateker communities.
The Committee Chair revealed that the National Government, would construct 200 units in every Constituency and stressed that public views collected will shape the programme’s implementation.
Present during the talks were County Secretary, Peter Eripete, Deputy County Secretary, Dr Albert Gamoe, County Executives David Erukudi (Trade) and Peter Akono (Lands), as well as Chief of Staff, Peter Yoromoe.
By Peter Gitonga
